3/26/2009
Study says fear big factor in assisted suicide
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Fear of the future is a major motivator for patients who kill themselves under Oregon’s assisted-suicide law.
The finding comes from an Oregon Health and Science University study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
“Our data suggests that patients who request physician-assisted death do so not because of physical symptoms or their current quality of life. They often make their requests based on an anticipation of future suffering,” said Dr. Linda Ganzini, a professor of psychiatry at the OHSU School of Medicine.
A study from Dr. Ganzini last year, one of many she has carried out in the past decade, showed that many assisted suicide patients may be clinically depressed, though few get referred for mental health treatment.
Previous studies of the reasons for requests of assisted suicide grew from talks with health care providers and family members. The current study came from direct interviews of 56 patients who had either requested a lethal prescription or contacted someone for information.
Most patients were ill with incurable cancer.
As in the previous studies, it was not actual suffering that caused the request, but the fear of future pain and the desire to control the circumstances of one’s death.
Other factors, listed in order of prominence, were: concerns about the future ability to care for oneself, a loss of independence and the desire to die at home. Among the lowest rated reasons for requesting assistance were: depression, lack of support, financial concerns, current pain and quality of life.
Dr. Ganzini said she hopes the study helps health providers counsel patients who request assisted suicide. She said medical teams should first focus on providing information about handling future symptoms and on improving patients’ sense of control.
Catholic leaders have steadily opposed assisted suicide, with many saying it devalues some human lives and creates a problematic “duty to die” among sick and aged people. Catholic hospitals refuse to take part.
For more on pro-life teachings of the church, go to www.usccb.org/prolife.
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